The Annual Pacific Crest Trail Thru- Hiker Survey (2. Before getting underway with the results of this year's Pacific Crest Trail survey, I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who has taken the time to participate these past four years. ![]() At seven feet long, Rober’s super-sized Super Soaker officially holds the Guinness World Record, but you’ll never, ever, want to find yourself caught in a water. This article was written by Daisy Luther and originally published at The Organic Prepper. Editor’s Comment: Keeping up-to-date on relevant information, and keeping. Everything you need to know about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, from gear to resupply, based on information from the PCT thru-hiker class of 2016. One such expectation is to perform cunnilingus. Thank you. You're all beautiful people. This is now the fourth year I'm doing this (2. Adaptive Resync. This mod helps to decrease the gap between positions of characters (host/client) and fixes some synchronization bugs. Because any trip to see a Soviet shuttle is worth it as long as no one’s wearing handcuffs at the end. A group of YouTubers going by the name Exploring the Unbeaten. Do me a favor for the next 5 minutes. Try to forget everything you know about a TAMPON. I know, it’s hard. But pretend that this is the first time you have ever. I think we can skip the small talk and get straight to what you're here for – the results of the 2. Pacific Crest Trail Thru- hiker Survey. As always, the following should be looked at skeptically; there's nothing particularly scientific about this data. I did my best to remove any obviously fraudulent answers (no, you didn't hike 1. Respondent 2. 14) and to make sure what's written here accurately reflects the data collected this year. My hope is that you find it entertaining, educational, and/or interesting. So here you are, the results of Halfway Anywhere's 2. Pacific Crest Trail Thru- hiker Survey: NOTES ON THE DATAThis year's survey saw a total of 3. The responses to some questions have been sorted and colorized to normalize the results and (hopefully) make them more useful (e. Therefore, the data is not 1. However, I am hoping people gave their best guesstimates when answering questions. For simplicity's sake, I refer to the survey respondents collectively as this year's “class“. Remember that this is but a percentage of the overall number of this year's hikers and is not necessarily representative of the entire PCT Class of 2. If you're that kind of person and you find some small discrepancy in the data, get over it – may I remind you we aren't dealing in exactness here. However, if you find any large or obvious air- roars (< -- -- like that!), please let me know. Here are the labels used to differentiate hiker segments: FINISH: Everyone who completed the entire PCT (regardless of direction hiked)NOBO: Northbound thru- hikers (all)NOBO- 0: Northbound thru- hikers who did NOT complete the PCTNOBO- 1: Northbound thru- hikers who completed the PCTSOBO: Southbound thru- hikers (all)SOBO- 0: Southbound thru- hikers who did NOT complete the PCTSOBO- 1: Southbound thru- hikers who completed the PCTTHRU- 0: Thru- hikers (all) who did NOT complete the PCTPART: Section hikers (all)If no label has been appended to a data point, then I used all data collected. If a segment is not used in the following data, then it will be used in an upcoming post regarding this survey. SOUTHBOUND DATA: I only received responses from TEN southbound thru- hikers. An additional TWO section- hiking southbounders responded as well, but their responses are not included in the SOBO- 0 and SOBO- 1 groups. DEMOGRAPHICSTo start, let's take a look at some information that won't help anyone prepare for their PCT thru- hike, but that is nonetheless interesting: HIKER DEMOGRAPHICS. SEX ? However, I will be delving deeper into the differences between hikers who finished and those who did not in a future post. KICKOFF ATTENDANCE: There was no ADZPCTKO (Kickoff) in 2. TRAIL DAYS ATTENDANCE: 7. Did not attend. 4. Would NOT attend again. Would attend again. This year I had hikers disclose whether or not they TRAINED for the PCT, and I had them RATE THEIR FITNESS on a scale of 0 (Fat, lazy waste of life) to 1. Godlike superhuman) with “Average Joe” in the middle at 5. DID YOU TRAIN FOR THE PCT? Those brave souls who began at one end of the country and didn't manage to make it to the other. Here's what happened to them (more or less). DID YOU COMPLETE THE PCT? The BV5. 00. Where, if anywhere, would you have MAILED A BOX instead of purchasing your resupply locally? Sierra City (Nor. Cal) (overwhelmingly)Stehekin (Washington)Agua Dulce (Desert)Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR) (Sierra)Belden (Nor. Cal)Crater Lake/Mazama (Oregon)Kennedy Meadows North (Nor. Cal)Warner Springs (Desert)What CHANGES would you make to your resupply strategy? Mail fewer boxes (overwhelmingly). Mail boxes from on- trail instead of ahead of time. Send less food in resupply boxes. Resupply more frequently. Basically, if you are only looking to send a couple of resupply boxes, the places to do so (according to this survey) would be (in order from Mexico to Canada): Look at all that nutrition! Warner Springs (Desert)Kennedy Meadows (Sierra)Crater Lake (Oregon)Shelter Cove (Oregon)Big Lake Youth Camp (Oregon)Trout Lake (Washington)White Pass (Washington)Snoqualmie Pass (Washington)Stevens Pass/Skykomish (Washington)Stehekin (Washington)That's ten boxes. The average number sent by this class? One thing that this class would do differently? Mail fewer boxes. NOTE: Many hikers simply put down “all of Washington” in response to the “where would you definitely suggest mailing a box” question, since the resupply options along Washington's PCT are quite limited (think gas stations and small convenience stores). It's not impossible to resupply at these places, but if you're picky, tight on cash, or just like sending boxes, then consider yourself warned. I also asked everyone to list everywhere they resupplied over the course of the trail. I have used the following colors to indicate the popularity of each stop: In geographical order, starting at Mexico, here are the most popular resupply stops (aka everywhere at least 7. OVER 6. 6%, 3. 3- 6. LESS THAN 3. 3%. DESERTCampo (4. Mount Laguna (8. 8%)Julian (5. Paradise Cafe (7. Warner Springs (9. Idyllwild (9. 4%)Anza (1%)Cabazon (2. Big Bear City (4. Big Bear Lake (4. Big Bear Hostel (2. Wrightwood (8. 5%)Acton (4. The Saufley's/Agua Dulce (7. The Anderson's (7. Hikertown (7. 4%)Tehachapi (8. Mojave (1. 8%)Ridgecrest (3%)Kernville (1%)Onyx (7%)Lake Isabella (4. SIERRAKennedy Meadows (9. Lone Pine (3. 5%)Independence (4. Muir Trail Ranch (1. Bishop (5. 7%)Vermilion Valley Resort (4. Red's Meadow (5. 0%)Mammoth Lakes (7. Tuolumne Meadows (8. Yosemite Valley (1%)Lee Vining (5%)Sonora Pass Resupply (1%)Bridgeport (1. Kennedy Meadows North (4. Markleeville (3%)For more on the Kennedy Meadows to Vermilion Valley Resort resupply, find my detailed post here. If you're interested in my own PCT resupply for each section then check out the following posts: NORTHERN CALIFORNIASouth Lake Tahoe (9. Echo Lake (2. 6%)Tahoe City (9%)Soda Springs (7%)Truckee (3. Sierra City (9. 0%)Quincy (2. Chester (5. 7%)Drakesbad (4. Old Station (7. 1%)Belden (8. Burney (3. 8%)Burney Falls Guest Ranch (2%)Burney Falls (6. Castella (4. 2%)Dunsmuir (2. Mount Shasta (5. 5%)Etna (7. Seiad Valley (8. 5%)OREGONCallahan's (4. Ashland (8. 5%)Fish Lake (2. Lake of the Woods Resort (3%)Mazama Village Store (Crater Lake) (9. Diamond Lake Resort (1. Shelter Cove Resort (7. Odell Lake Resort (7%)Elk Lake Resort (3. Sisters (2. 9%)Bend (5. Big Lake Youth Camp (6. Olallie Lake Resort (5. Government Camp (1. Timberline Lodge (8. Cascade Locks (9. Hood River (8%)Portland (1%)WASHINGTONTrout Lake (5. White Pass (9. 3%)Packwood (2. Snoqualmie Pass (9. Stevens Pass/Skykomish (7. The Dinsmores (2. Leavenworth (4%)Stehekin (9. Mazama (9%)Winthrop (1. But what about hitchhiking into town? I asked hikers what resupply stops (if any) they had difficulty making it to from the trail. The top responses were: Etna (Northern California)Independence from Kearsarge Pass (Sierra)Lake Isabella (Desert)Bishop (Sierra)Trout Lake (Washington)This year I added a question about hikers' FAVORITE and LEAST FAVORITE resupply points. Here's what we came up with (for each section): FAVORITE RESUPPLY POINTSDESERT: Idyllwild. SIERRA: Bishop. NORCAL: South Lake Tahoe. OREGON: Ashland. WASHINGTON: Stehekin. HONORABLE MENTIONSMammoth Lakes (Sierra)Wrightwood (Desert)LEAST FAVORITE RESUPPLY POINTSDESERT: Hikertown. SIERRA: Kennedy Meadows. NORCAL: Belden. OREGON: Shelter Cove. WASHINGTON: Snoqualmie Pass. HONORABLE MENTIONSSeiad Valley (Nor. Cal)Sierra City (Nor. Cal)GEARNow to the question of gear. A divisive subject among hikers, gear talk and gear questions plague hikers on and off- trail alike (beware the gear circle jerk). Here's what this class had to say about their PCT outfits. AVERAGE BASE WEIGHT (START) . Here are the MOST COMMONLY USED “Big 4” items: PACKS, SHELTERS, SLEEPING BAGS, and SLEEPING PADS (I know it's the “Big 3”, but I like to include sleeping pads). Now you know where to invest those 1,6. But in addition to the big ticket items, hikers also need to consider what they're bringing in the STOVE, WATER TREATMENT, and BEAR CANISTER departments. For more on the best stoves, water treatment systems, and bear canisters for the PCT, check out these posts: SURVEY SAYS: You're bring too much. Since 7. 3% of this class were on their FIRST long- distance hike, it's safe to say that a lot of them had no idea what they were doing (because nothing, including this survey, can prepare you for the trail). In light of this, many hikers end up dropping gear from their packs as they realize they don't really need all the things they at one time thought absolutely necessary (as evidenced by the 3. Here are the top things it took hikers the longest to get rid of (and things you may want to think twice about bringing). Extra clothing. Camp shoes. Umbrella. Stove. Solar charger. Sawyer MINITowel. Books. And what sort of “extra clothing” were people carrying around in their packs? Baselayers. Extra shirts. Town clothes. Sleeping clothes. Extra socks/underwear. When asked about what gear they would have liked to UPGRADE during the hike and what ADDITIONAL COMMENTS they had on gear, here is what this class had to say. UPGRADESleeping Bag. Rain gear. Backpack. Shelter. Down jacket. Sleeping pad. COMMENTSGood gear is worth the investment. Lighter is better (but don't compromise on comfort). Focus on warmth and waterproofing. Get a 1. 0? If there was overlap between resources (it was listed as both a “most” and “least” valuable) I took the difference. What resource did you find LEAST VALUABLE when planning your hike? The PCT Facebook Page. Books about the PCTOther people's opinions. Retail store employees. PCTA. org. Forums*I just want to thank everyone who supports the site and encourages me to keep doing what I'm doing – so THANK YOU! PAYDAY 2: FBI Files. Heist Database. Known locations the Payday Gang have been. The MO of the perpetrators has been to execute a rapid hit- and- run, aimed at emptying cash registers and getting out fast. This area has deep connections with the Russian community, so it is possible that these four stores are caught between two squabbling Russian mob- bosses. Jewelry Store. The Payday gang have hit this one a number of times. Washington is full of stores like this. They can be easily entered at the front and back, and are small enough that a well- rehearsed crew can quickly nullify any resistance. An increase in local patrols might give us a faster heads up if the Payday gang pay a visit. Ukrainian Job. This appears to have been a jewelry store job, similar to many others committed, though the goal was very specific - a diamond tiara secured in a safe. This tiara was being held for Dimitri Volkov, and was apparently intended to be worn by his wife at their wedding. The stores in the mall were specifically focused for damage, rather than theft. Got to be another motive behind this. Look into who stands to lose, and who stands to gain, from the damage here. Harvest and Trustee Bank. Harvest and Trustee Bank has branches all over Washington. They are generally single- storey constructions, with heavy rear doors, roof access and cameras that are controlled from a locked security room. Most branches will employ three or four security personnel, and teller staff are trained to lower shutters in the event of a robbery. I recommend the construction of new training facilities for our teams, model them on these banks. Harvest and Trustee don't seem likely to change their security, as all their losses are covered by the federal government anyway. Nightclub. The Tasteful Club is a routine stop for our patrols on Saturday nights. The calls are mostly related to drunk- and- disorderlies. Owned and managed by Dimitri Volkov - a known snitch who handed Vlad Kozak to the authorities - we also suspect that it hosts illegal gambling. It appears that the Payday gang stole a large sum of money from the safe in the managers office. And why are they targeting this particular Russian - maybe a connection with a rival? Watchdogs. This operation was conducted in cooperation with Hector Morales. The Payday gang were originally contracted to provide escort for a batch of Morales’ coke. The real purpose, however, was for them to be in a place and time of our choosing. Unfortunately, the Bureau underestimated the gang, who fought their way out of the ambush. However, it does not appear that the gang suspected the involvement of the Bureau. Morales directed them to a rendezvous at the nearby docks, where a second attempt to apprehend them was made. Packed into a van, surrounded, we should have ended this there. A private airfield that was owned by a holding company, a raid on our own regional offices and the destruction of a large cache of currency at a Harvest and Trustee Bank. The Sinaloan cartel have been warring with the Mendozas for years. Are the Sinaloans linked with Bain? Big Oil. Professor Rossy suffered a serious burglary at his secluded laboratory. He is a highly respected physicist, who has spent years trying to convince the scientific world of the viability of cold fusion - the cheap generation of enormous amounts of power without radiation. The mansion that houses his laboratory is in a remote area, and not easy to reach. From what we can gather, Prof. Rossy was on the verge of something truly remarkable. If he has finally made a breakthrough, it would be worth a lot to the right - or wrong - people. This one might lead me to a tasty catch, possibly proving Crime. Net’s political connections. Framing Frame. The Capitol Art Gallery reported the burglary of several paintings from an exhibition of new Singaporean artists. Questioning the usual fencers dealing in such art drew a blank, but these paintings were later found in the apartment of a well- respected Senator. Hard to say who benefited the most from this. The fallout saw a shake- up that had Capitol Hill playing musical chairs. I’m sure one of those senators, congressmen, governors made good on this. I suspect this was the work of the Payday gang, which shows they have the brains to hatch a political scandal unseen since Watergate. Rats. A number of high- ranking Mendoza cartel members were assassinated while being escorted out of the country under armed guard. These South Americans had cooperated with our field agents, and a deal had been worked out that would see their safe passage in exchange for information on the Sinaloan cartel. It is possible that this assassination was also linked to two other incidents - a meth- operation in a forest shack, and a shoot- out in a neighborhood ruled by The Cobras gang. These things get bloody, fast, and, even though they’re shooting at each other, we have to practice zero tolerance. The Mendoza’s were almost in bed with the Bureau too. The failure to protect them not only means we lost a valuable contact, we’re also going to find it harder to convince any other rats in the future. Diamond Store. Despite the great wealth on display, the . The building had several ways in and out, cameras controlled by a well- equipped security room and several guards. If anything, this proves that Bain and his boys are willing to hit absolutely anywhere. This wealth of easily fenced stones made it a natural target for the Payday gang. Armored Transports. Crime. Net has coordinated multiple hits against Gen. Sec's armored trucks all across the city. The jobs are well- planned. Hits have included the use of cranes, truck cabs and planting explosives to blow up downtown skywalks. This indicates that Bain may have operatives within that organization. I recommend assisting Gen. Sec in any way we can to help plug that leak. Train Heist. Civilian trains are often authorised to carry sensitive military equipment, providing they can provide the appropriate security. This train was stopped by hacked signal boxes. It was shipping a prototype RC1 automated turret. Who the hell knows what else Bain might be picking up? They’re generally small buildings, serving the local community. The vaults in these branches are the smaller variety, and most often protected with a time- lock. I’m impressed with the response times shown by our teams getting out there, but we need to improve. This kind of bank job is the bread and butter of the Payday gang, and we can expect to see more hits. Election Day. There were sightings of the Payday crew at the docks where the voting machines for the Mayoral elections were being stored, as well as at the warehouse where they were transported. In this town, any kind of suspicion could discredit a nominee. Shadow Raid. It appears that there was a burglary on a warehouse registered to Murkywater. However, there has been no official word on this, and our only lead on it comes from overheard conversations with Murkywater personnel we occasionally employ. Of note, however, is that the market was flooded with foreign banknotes and ancient artifacts shortly after. Can’t blame . If they’re moving as much illegal contraband as we suspect, they wouldn’t want us sniffing around. The Big Bank We have a room full of files detailing attempted robberies on this place, going back decades. However, not one has been successfully completed. The Benevolent take their security extremely seriously, and their preparations are some of the best we at the Bureau have seen. From the planning to the execution, it was a thorough job. This one should be getting taught at the Academy. The Benevolent is uncomfortably close to the White House, so I recommend tightening patrols around here. Hotline Miami. An assassination attempt on Grigori Beria. A Russian mob boss known by the alias “The Commissar”. His record shows that he has been involved in a range of criminal activity, including prostitution, drug manufacture and distribution, murder, and guns. The assassination involved two locations. Firstly, a motel on the outskirts of town, which was well- known to us as a hang- out for The Commissar’s men, and, secondly, a high- rise apartment block. We gotta be merciless. Much as I’d like to let these two go at it, wipe each out, we have to go in. Maybe tactics aimed at mitigating casualties, because Bain’s crew left these places looking like warzones. Art Gallery. The Capitol Art Gallery is one of DC’s leading galleries, hosting exhibitions ranging from 1. Century Swedish masterpieces to modern Singaporean pop- art. This burglary saw the disappearance of several modern masterpieces. Art crime has always been very lucrative. Theft, smuggling, and forgery have driven an insatiable black- market. The skylights seem to be particularly vulnerable. Seems like the notoriety brings visitors, so maybe the gallery isn’t interested in boosting security. Hoxton Breakout. Security was very high as the prisoner - James Hoxworth - was being transferred from Hazelton Prison to his parole hearing. The Payday gang intercepted this transfer through the use of C4 explosives. They then escorted him through the streets. Soon after escaping from the reacting forces, they headed to the FBI headquarters at the Hoover building, where they stole a server. If there’s one thing to learn from this, it is never underestimate the Payday gang. White Xmas. Late on 1. As there was no flight path submitted, and it must have been flying very low to have not registered on ATC radar, SWAT teams were dispatched to investigate. What they found was the Payday team attempting to extricate a disoriented pilot from the scene. Later it was revealed that the plane was rented by a fake company, and that the black box recorded a collision with an unknown flying object. My Notes: If the Payday gang were there, there must have been something in with that cargo. Based on the low- level flight, my guess is that it was a smuggling run - cocaine, perhaps guns. Security at these small local airfields needs tightening. The Diamond. The Mc.
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